Tabek's words made Teron Gorefiend's composure falter. His body gave a slight shudder.
"Kilrogg's men were hurt?" Teron Gorefiend asked.
Malone knew that the "Kilrogg" Teron Gorefiend meant was Kilrogg Deadeye, chieftain of the Bloodfang Clan, and a formidable figure among the Orcs.
"Not just that."
Tabek seemed to recall what he had witnessed. Fear crept over his face, and he shuddered before continuing.
"That dead Bloodfang Orc had a piece of his scalp cut off from the top of his head by a Troll."
"What?" Teron Gorefiend cried out.
If it had just been a fight, or even a death, that would have been one thing. But desecrating the dead person's body was nothing less than an outright provocation.
"How come I haven't heard about this?" Teron Gorefiend still had some doubts about whether the story was true.
"Why would I lie to you...? Doomhammer ordered the news kept quiet, and the Death Knights had nothing to do with it, so nobody told you."
Tabek made a guess.
Teron Gorefiend nodded silently. He knew the Death Knights were unpopular in the Orc camp, and he reported directly to the Warchief. Since he hadn't seen the Warchief yet that day, it was possible he simply hadn't heard about it.
Malone could hardly believe his ears. These people—Orcs and Trolls—could they be any more savage?
Fighting was one thing, killing someone was another... but then they had to scalp their opponent, too...
Just picturing it made Malone shudder.
Still, Malone knew the story was probably true—he meant the part about the scalping.
Back when he played World of Warcraft, Malone had thought Trolls resembled the Native Americans of Earth, or other primitive tribes.
That was especially true of the Troll Headhunters. The term originally referred to people who cut the scalps off the tops of their enemies' heads.
When Americans fought Native Americans, both sides did this. They could exchange the scalps they took for a reward.
"I can understand why they'd keep it quiet... but Kilrogg won't just let this go, will he?"
Teron Gorefiend asked.
"Of course not. Plenty of chieftains and clan leaders joined together to protest to Doomhammer. Some even said they shouldn't have allied with the Trolls and should wipe them out, just like the humans."
Tabek answered.
"What did the Troll leader Zul'jin say?"
That was what Teron Gorefiend cared about most. It didn't matter if a few people got into a fight and died. How to handle the matter ultimately depended on the Warchief and Zul'jin.
"He said they could try."
Tabek replied.
"What?" Teron Gorefiend was taken aback.
"I mean that was Zul'jin's answer. He was there when those chieftains protested. Then someone said they should get rid of the Trolls, and Zul'jin said... 'You can try.'"
Tabek explained.
That Zul'jin... Malone clicked his tongue inwardly. What a brazen bastard!
Malone knew Zul'jin. He was the leader of the Amani Empire, and a powerful figure.
There was a dungeon in World of Warcraft called Zul'Aman, and Zul'jin was its final boss.
But Malone hadn't expected Zul'jin to be so audacious in this other world, saying something like that in front of so many Orcs—Orc chieftains, no less.
"An arrogant fool..." Teron Gorefiend shook his head, giving his verdict.
"What did the Warchief say?" Teron Gorefiend continued.
Tabek thought for a moment, then answered, "Doomhammer told Zul'jin to hand over the one who scalped Kilrogg's clansman."
"But Zul'jin refused, and then he and the chieftains argued back and forth for almost half the night without resolving anything. In the end, everyone went back to sleep."
Tabek's account made Malone want to laugh. If they couldn't settle it with words, why not throw a punch? How had they all ended up going to bed?
"But I still don't understand why the Warchief would ask about us Death Knights." Teron Gorefiend brought the conversation back to where it had started.
Although Teron Gorefiend was interested in the conflict between the Trolls and the Orcs, it wasn't something he could interfere in.
"Doomhammer thinks things between the Trolls and us reached this point because he didn't stop the conflict at the beginning. He doesn't want any more trouble between the Death Knights and the Orcs."
Tabek explained.
"I understand. I'll go with you to see the Warchief." Teron Gorefiend nodded.
"What about him?" Tabek pointed at Malone.
"Maicomarlon... you're coming with me, too." Teron Gorefiend said to Malone.
"What? Me?"
Malone was still trying to digest all the information Tabek had brought. At Teron Gorefiend's words, he waved his hands repeatedly in refusal.
"I can't leave. Tiffany's still here."
"You have to go." Tabek shook his head. "There were two Death Knights causing trouble. If I show up without one of them, I can't explain myself."
Malone looked at Teron Gorefiend, ignoring Tabek.
"You should come with me, Maicomarlon." Teron Gorefiend seemed to consider it for a moment before speaking.
"But what about Tiffany? What'll happen to her?" Malone asked in surprise.
"The other Death Knights will protect her." Teron Gorefiend pointed toward the Death Knights outside the tent.
"No." Malone flatly refused.
First, Malone didn't trust the other Death Knights. Apart from their rotting bodies, what was the difference between them and the Orcs?
Second, Malone worried Tiffany would be frightened if he wasn't there.
"You'd better come with me. Tabek knows you were there. If he tells the Warchief about this, the Warchief will be furious. Then even more Orcs will come here."
Teron Gorefiend said.
"But..." Malone still hesitated.
"There are tens of thousands of Orcs in this camp, and fewer than a thousand Death Knights." Teron Gorefiend reminded Malone.
Malone understood what Teron Gorefiend meant.
If this matter angered Orgrim Doomhammer, the newly appointed Orc Warchief would be more than happy to use Malone's head to proclaim his authority—and perhaps intimidate the Trolls under Zul'jin at the same time.
By then, even Teron Gorefiend wouldn't be able to protect Malone and Tiffany. And in that situation, there was no guarantee the other Death Knights would stand with Teron Gorefiend.
"I'll go with you, Teron." Malone nodded, then walked over to Tiffany.
Tiffany had kept her eyes tightly shut. She could hear Malone and the others talking, but she couldn't understand them.
Hearing Malone's footsteps, Tiffany opened her eyes.
"I need to leave for a little while." Malone crouched down. He hesitated for a long time before telling the girl.
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